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review 2014-03-20 16:58
Cleverness and Fun Working in TANDEM
Tandem - Anna Jarzab


*circumstances prevented me from finishing/posting my review of this book until now.*

Sasha Lawson can’t really imagine why Grant Davis would suddenly ask her to prom. And she certainly couldn’t imagine that in consequence, she becomes tangled in dangerous political game in a parallel universe.

In the Tandem-verse, universes co-exist, each with varying degrees of differences that arise from certain divergent events in reality. People repeat, too--and it just so happens that Sasha’s “analog” is the troubled princess Juliana. When she disappears before an arranged marriage, Sasha must play the part to keep the peace, and to return to her grandfather’s stately Victorian back in Chicago.

Sasha’s sudden assumption of this new life also ushers in a new contention--romance--because being an impostor at an alien royal court isn’t already hard enough. Thomas Mayhew seems an ally (and a good-looking ally at that), but who is it that Sasha can really trust?

There are many high-concept YA reads to choose from these days, but this particular concept? It’s clever, and it’s equally fun and terrifying to imagine. It’s a welcome change from the “sorting” and “choosing” strain of YA books that still touches on the themes of belonging and identity. The science-fiction component is fresh and still distinct from the “evil twin” variety of parallel universe plots.

It’s easy to sympathize with Sasha Lawson. She’s trapped in the identity of another person and has to deal with the enormous spotlight trained on her.  Not to mention she also has to free herself from her the trappings of a political pawn. I found the politics and ramifications of the universes/analogs to be more compelling than the eventual romance between Thomas and Sasha. However this could merely be fatigue on my part of the inevitable inclusion of romance in practically every YA novel these days.

Tandem is an enjoyable read with a different take on the “princess” story, and a welcome break from the deluge of dystopian reads.

*note: I received an e-copy of this book from Random House Children's through Netgalley in exchange for honest feedback.



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review 2014-02-04 00:00
The Worlds We Make: The Fallen World trilogy (Way We Fall, The)
The Worlds We Make - Megan Crewe {Feb 24th 2014} UPDATE

Just a personal note, although I have received it a few weeks ago, I'm not going to read it until I read the first two books. Primarily because what's the point of reading the last book of a trilogy without knowing the story up to this point? None, other than a confusing mindtrip, that's what--and I rather that not happen to me. It's not fun, and it would distract me from enjoying the story. I rather that not happen by the way. Either way, going to try and get them soon, once reality gives me a bit of a break. asdfghjkl
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review 2013-11-12 00:00
Tandem: The Many-Worlds Trilogy, Book I
Tandem - Anna Jarzab I can't begin to explain how much I wanted to love this book. I really did. I love me some dystopian/futuristic young adult stuff. But this one ... well ... it was interesting ... parallel worlds with you in it but it's not you, it's another version of you ... sometimes a better version, sometimes a worse version ... come on. That's some good shit! But it just fell flat for me.

The writing wasn't bad. The story line wasn't bad. Character development, the back story ... all okay. But that's all it was for me. Just okay. When I first saw the cover, it knocked my socks off! Yes, I judge books by their cover. You do too, so don't judge me. The cover is cool as hell and then the blurb on the back just pulled me in. I couldn't wait to get started on this one. And then it just dropped off for me. The sad thing was that I got about halfway through the book when it started to happen and then it was just a flat-liner from there on out.

Don't get me wrong, this isn't a bad book. So if you like semi-dystopian and futuristic stuff, this might be the best thing you've ever read. A lot of people really liked it. The characters are pretty well written ... I liked the heroine of the story quite a bit. The men that are pulling her into different directions are pretty okay as well. Oh, I did like her grandfather. He had a soft spot for her just like my grandpa had for me ... so I automatically loved him. It just wasn't a BAM!!-Emeril Lagasse type of story for me.

Now, since I liked the premise of this novel so much, I might pick up the next book just to see if it hooks me. You guys should check it out too! You never know ...

** http://littlemissbookmark.blogspot.com/ **
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review 2013-10-24 06:55
Kidnapping? What kidnapping?
Tandem (Many-World, #1) - Anna Jarzab



Cliffhanger warning

Parallel universes are a tricky topic in fiction. I've read my share of them, and the majority have been fairly horrible. They tend to be poorly explained and in the end, I am left with more questions than the answers I was given. The failures stem from the lack of scientific backing, or rather the lack of make-believe-science backing. I can believe either, so long as the "evidence" for such a parallel universe presented makes sense to me, and in that sense, this book's parallel universe was very well described and explained. I had my reservations and I had plenty of questions...and all my concerns about the concept were addressed quite nicely.

The background was well executed, but the characters were considerably less enjoyable. I found no enjoyment in the characters; with the exception of one side character, I felt most of the major characters in the book were unlikeable, idiotic, and inconsistent in their behavior and thought.

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review 2013-10-22 05:14
Review: Tandem
Tandem (Many-World, #1) - Anna Jarzab

I probably should’ve posted my review immediately after I finished reading Tandem (which was actually about a week and a half ago) because that is when I had a lot more to say. The reality of it was that at the end of it, I didn’t care much to review right then. It was such a meh moment that I needed time to mull it over. I probably judged the title this time more on the pretty cover, rather than doing research into checking other reviews and seeing if it’d be something I’d like. Though afterward I’ve noticed I’m probably just the black sheep because it seems to be very well-liked among many readers. The good news is that I remember it at least, so that is always a plus sign. And not going to lie… that is certainly one gorgeous cover. One of my favorites this year
probably.


The premise didn’t feel too original to me once I got into the story. I did like the sci-fi elements to give the book its own interesting spin on what would've otherwise been a basic and general idea without it-- and that was what had me hold on throughout the
book instead of marking it as a DNF. The idea of alternate dimensions with ‘analogs’, or basically almost like a clone-copy of ourselves, was fascinating. I felt there was an excellent explanation to this. Especially with Sasha's love of Twelfth Night (Shakespeare, holla!). So, I didn’t hate this book or anything--I’d likely recommend it to readers that are interested so they can form their own opinions. My biggest complaints were the characters… and since I’m a reader that largely focuses on characters most of the time, this made it a problem.


This was an unusual case of insta-love, one that I can’t explain completely without putting in minor spoilers. But Sasha goes on the first date with our lead guy/romantic interest and it’s all “Oooh I think I’m falling for him” right then on that very date. I almost put it down right there. But then there's the event of going to the alternate world, and suddenly hates him, and within a short time, right back to the feels. Ha! The girl was a bit confused to say the least. And she was confused often. She didn’t understand half the time when one of the others would answer her questions--leaving them to try and explain again. It was a constant annoyance because it made for a lot of unnecessary info-dumping making it drag in places, and repetitiveness within the story. Particularly when the girl is repeatedly told not to run off because it’s dangerous--and what does she do?
Yep. Of course.


The villain was obvious from the start, as with a few of the twists, and this made it for more of meh read. One thing I was glad of though was that it didn’t get all clichéd with a love triangle because it could have been easily set up--though the slight attempt at one is there, it doesn’t necessarily happen.

There were details I would’ve liked more of to get a better feel for the background of the other world. I did like what I took away as being their ruling system--a bit old fashioned compared to our modern practices--and found the descriptions of their technology interesting. But I still felt like areas lacked. I only got a simple explanation of the Libertas and their reasons for rebelling. I also would have liked more about Juliana. More about her side of the story. This could have used a bit more back story maybe and information so there wasn’t so much confusion. Just my opinion, I guess.

All in all, it wasn’t terrible. It certainly picked up within the last hundred pages so I am glad I decided to give it a chance and continue reading instead of putting it down. I am undecided as far as continuing the series though. I’ll have to see. The ending here left off fairly closed, but still a bit unresolved. If you’re a sci-fi fan and have been interested in this title, I’d say give it a chance still. It was a slow build-up of a fascinating world and mystery into a thrilling and memorable read.

 

Pixie
The Bookaholic

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